AFRICAN UNION - DOC 13

							        AFRICAN UNION                                                      UNION AFRICAINE

                                                                            UNIÃO AFRICANA
         Addis Ababa, Ethiopia P. O. Box 3243    Tel; 5517 700                      Fax: 5511299
                            Website: www. africa-union.org
                            DIVISION OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION


                                 PRESS RELEASE Nº46/2010

      AU’S COMMITTEMENT TO IMPROVE MARITIME SECURITY AND SAFETY


Addis Ababa, 5 April 2010 – Over the past decade, maritime security and safety have
become a major challenge for several African coastal countries. Piracy has become a
major threat generating or exacerbating political and social instability in the surroundings.
Drug and human trafficking, financing the purchase of weapons, oil spills and other
environmental crimes, to name a few, are vulnerabilities and threats that weaken the
continent.

To address these developments which have a negative impact on Africa’s growth, the
African Union (AU) has put together an African Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIM-
Strategy) aiming to achieve a comprehensive understanding of existing and potential
challenges and allocation of resources to identified priorities. It also aims at designing a
comprehensive, concerted, coherent and coordinated approach that improves maritime
conditions in respect of environmental and socio-economic development.

In this regard, an experts meeting on maritime security is being convened from 6 to 7 April
2010 to examine the AIM-Strategy at the headquarters on the AU in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia. Journalists are invited to cover the opening ceremony of the meeting on 6 April
2010 at 10h00 in the Plenary Hall of the AU.

Programme attached




                    Division of Communication and Information. African Union Commission
                              E mail: dinfo@africa-union.org Fax 251 11 5511299
    AFRICAN UNION                                                   UNION AFRICAINE

                                                                    UNIÃO AFRICANA
    Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, P.O. Box: 3243       Tel.: (251-11) 5513 822      Fax: (251-11) 5519 321
   Email: situationroom@africa-union.org, situationroom@ausitroom-psd.org


EXPERTS WORKSHOP ON MARITIME
SECURITY AND SAFETY
6 - 7 APRIL 2010
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA




                                 DRAFT PROGRAMME




                  Division of Communication and Information. African Union Commission
                            E mail: dinfo@africa-union.org Fax 251 11 5511299
        “TOWARDS A STABLE, SECURED AND CLEAN AFRICAN MARITIME
                  DOMAIN FOR A PROSPEROUS AFRICA”

DAY 1: 6 APRIL 2010

09:00 – 10:00       Registration of participants

10:00-10:20 OPENING

             -   Statement by the Commissioner for Peace and Security
             -   Statement by the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy
             -   Statement by the representative of the country chairing the Union

10:20-13:00 SESSION I: THREATS AND VULNERABILITIES IN AFRICA’S MARITIME DOMAIN

                Presentations:
                 - Illegal fishing
                 - Environmental threats
                 - Drug trafficking
                 - Arms trafficking
                 - Human trafficking
                 - Piracy

                Discussion

11:00-11:25 Group Photo

             Coffee Break

11:25-13:00 SESSION I (CONTINUED)

13:00-14:30 Lunch

14:30 -17:00 SESSION II: ONGOING MARITIME SECURITY INITIATIVES IN AFRICA

                At continental level
             -   African Standby Force / Maritime Strategic Lift
             -   Water, Resources and Environment
             -   AUC Initiative against illegal Trafficking
             -   African Maritime Transport Charter: AU Policy and Strategic Framework
                 on Maritime Safety and Security and Protection of Environment
             -    AU Border Programme

                Regional and other initiatives




15:30-15:45 Coffee Break

15:45-17:00 SESSION II (CONTINUED)

                    Division of Communication and Information. African Union Commission
                              E mail: dinfo@africa-union.org Fax 251 11 5511299
                                               *****

DAY 2: 7 APRIL 2010

09:00-10:45 SESSION III: INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS ON MARITIME SECURITY AND SAFETY

               Presentations :
            -   Legal aspects
            -   Political and other related aspects
            -   Training/Capacity Building

               Discussion

10:45-16:00 PREPARATION OF THE WORKSHOP’S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS

12:30-15:00 Lunch Break

16:00-17:30 SESSION IV: CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF THE WORKSHOP’S REPORT AND
                            RECOMMENDATIONS AND
            CLOSING

            -   Adoption of the Workshop’s report and recommendations
            -   Closing




                   Division of Communication and Information. African Union Commission
                             E mail: dinfo@africa-union.org Fax 251 11 5511299